I have to apologize to everyone, I am so so sorry. A lot of things have been going on (as I always say). I've had to deal with moving, and getting shot at in the ghetto. Please forgive me. And in the move, I seem to have lost the notebook I'd had this story planned out in. Shucks, this is crap. I hope you guys still like what I pull from my sleeve.

When Doves Cry
Chapter Five

Lash had spent the night that Friday, but on the orders of my mother, I had to go visit my grandmother. He'd been wary about returning home, and when I'd offered to walk him he'd declined. It was almost a good thing because no sooner than he'd disappeared down the street did Layla pop over for breakfast. At the request of Lash, I told not a soul about his and I's new friendship, not even my diary (boys keep them too!)

"What's been up with you lately?" Layla'd asked during breakfast, tone low so only I could hear. "You've been acting weird."

I'd given her the Stronghold laugh. "How so?" I asked.

She'd shrugged, gaze flickering downwards for a moment as she thought. "I wish you'd tell me things, Will."

I'd changed the subject after that; she'd find out sooner or later. When Lash was willing to tell people. If he ever would be. I didn't like that thought, so I kept it far away.

Monday came slower than I'd wanted it too, and as I climbed down the bus stairs, feeling very happy-go-lucky, my eyes moved over the grounds searching for him. I hated to sound like some kind of school girl, but Lash was all I thought about. And when I thought about him I got these weird feelings in my stomach. Mom said they were butterflies, Dad said it was indigestion -- I had no clue what it was, and I was unsure of whether or not I liked it.

"Will, wait up."

Layla had to jog to keep up with my fast strides. They weren't intentional, or...well...they might have been. My subconscious was telling me to leave her in the dust so I could find Lash, and maybe sneak off somewhere with him and his soft lips. I side-glanced my best friend as she shifted her backpack around.

"What's the rush?" she asked. "You're never this happy to be here."

I shrugged, doing my best not to share anything. "Just feeling very..motivated, I guess?" I said, raising a brow at her.

She raised her brow in return, but fell silent, still struggling to keep up with me. Sometimes I hated best friends; couldn't they just leave you alone?

We entered the school and went to our lockers, like every morning, and as Layla rambled on and opened her locker, I looked around again with a last hope. I found him, he was turning the corner, and disappearing from the hallway I was in, so without thinking, I ran after him. I didn't know if Layla noticed, and I didn't particularly care.

I rounded the corner and caught up with him in no time. He was still slinking slowly, all by himself, and I jumped in front of him, giving him an out-of-breath greeting, and a grin as I leaned against the wall. He'd started when I'd appeared, but he smirked now.

"Saw you down there." he said. "Didn't want to interrupt whatever she was saying."

He always made that face when he was talking about Layla, but I never knew why. I never pointed it out either. I gave a shrug, and casually swatted at the air.

"It wouldn't have mattered." I said."I don't listen to half the shit she says."

His smirk grew slightly, flickering to a fully-fledged grin and back. He stepped around me and continued walking, as if he knew I'd follow (which I did...of course).

"How were things when you got home?" I asked quietly.

The smirk faded and the scowl returned. He gave a shrug. "I got a lecture or two." he said. "But both of them were too trashed to do anything. They ignored me the rest of the weekend."

I said nothing, instantly going through a guilt trip -- not because it was my fault or anything, but because he didn't deserve this, no one did. Parents are supposed to love their kids.

"Do you ever fight back, Lash?" I asked suddenly as he stopped at his locker.

He opened it, making a face as he thought, and glanced at me. "What do you think I could do?" he asked. "He's like you."

"What do you mean?" I questioned.

"Strength." He answered. Then he added in a quieter tone. "And you and I both know you can kick my ass. It's a piece of cake for him."

I shrugged. "You have to do something." It wasn't the first time I said this, and it wouldn't be the last time.

He gave a dry laugh. "Face it Stronghold," he said. "I'm not going to. But I'll survive. Once I hit eighteen anyway, bam! I'm outta here."

"Where're you gonna go?" I asked curiously.

He shrugged again. "Anywhere really." he said.

"You could come to my place." I said.

He smirked once more. "And where would I sleep?" he asked. "In your little twin bed with you?"

I shrugged. "You're pretty skinny." I said. "We could make it work."

He laughed, a real laugh, and shut his locker, done with whatever he was doing. "I don't like liking you, Will." He said -- I loved when he used my first name, "But damn, you make it hard."

I smirked myself. "Of course," I said. "I'm Will Stronghold."

He rolled his eyes, and looked around. Of course people were watching us. It was like the first time two animals are introduced to each other on nature shows, when the male turtle is finally going to reproduce with the female -- when everyone gets all quiet and gapes, open-mouthed ("And lookie 'ere, the male turtle is making 'is first moves!"). When he looked back at me, he seemed sheepish from the stares.

"I want you to sit with me at lunch." he said, voice just barely above a whisper. "But I don't want any of your friends following."

I nodded quickly. "That can work." I said. I'd make it work, definitely.

He smirked a final time. "I got to go then." he said. "See you around."

I nodded and he turned to stalk off. I glanced at the people standing around me, who quickly scattered as though embarrassed I'd caught them, before I shook my head and started back towards my locker. While rounding the corner, I ran smack into Layla, who grabbed my shoulders as though I'd been kidnapped.

"Jesus Will, talk about rude." She said sharply. "What the Hell is your problem lately?"

I shrugged out of her grasp, making a face. "Damn, stop treating me like a kid or something." I said. "You're like a second shadow, only shadows don't nag and whine when I don't pay attention to them."

I knew the words had stung the moment I said them, but I couldn't take them back. I didn't want to take them back. Her whole face fell, and her shoulders seemed to sag a little.

"I don't nag and whine." she said softly.

"Yeah, you do." I insisted. "All the time anymore...can't I have other friends?"

"Well, Zach --" she began.

"Besides them." I said dryly.

"So what?" She asked. "You and Lash are friends now."

"We might be." I said. "If you weren't always holding onto me like a doll of sorts. We aren't a thing anymore, Layla. I need to breathe."

Her features hardened, and I knew what she was going to say before she said them. She'd figured it out. "You like him don't you?" she said.

I didn't answer, instead just stared at her. I think I was secretly hoping the answer would appear on her forehead. She gave a slight scoff and shook her head.

"You could've just said something." She said softly. "I would've understood."

"Yeah right." Damn speaking before thinking.

She made a face again. "You don't believe me?" she asked.

I sighed and gave a shrug; we were going to be late. "Look Layla." I said. "I like having you as a friend. But that's just it. We're friends. Not life partners. We aren't attached at the hip. I can cross the street without you."

I was babbling nonsense, a whole buncha word vomit. And she suddenly looked ready to cry. What's worse? I didn't feel bad. I gave another sigh.

"I have to go to class." I said.

And I left her standing there, her jaw dropped slightly, and eyes glistening.

I all but ran into the cafeteria at lunch time, and searched quickly for Lash. He was in a different corner today, no food, and staring out the window as if something interesting was happening outside. I made my way towards him, thankful to not run into any of my friends, and I sat down across from him clumsily.

"Slow down, cowboy." he said throwing a smirk in my direction. "You're like an excitable puppy."

I grinned and shrugged. "What can I say?"

"You don't need to say anything." he said. "It's pretty obvious I get your panties in a bunch."

I started laughing, but stopped. "I don't wear panties." I said, mock-offensively.

He grinned, lightening up again. "In this relationship, you bet your ass you do, Stronghold."

My stomach gave a flop. Indigestion? I don't know. But the fact that he was calling this a relationship made my cheeks burn. He looked down at the table, smile fading.

"Can I come over tonight?" he asked.

"Of course," I said. "You can come over any night."

Welcome back, Lash's smile. "Thanks." he said.

I made light of the situation. "Jeez," I replied. "You've thanked me twice in three days; I must be getting luckier."

He rolled his eyes. "You're such a fag, Stronghold." he said, but he was grinning.

I might have been offended, but I realized he liked me because of it. "You wouldn't have it any other way." I stated.

He hesitated; I'd caught him. After a moment, he grinned. "You're absolutely right."

His eyes flickered to something behind me, and I turned in my seat. Layla was sitting down at a table not too far away with Majenta, and she was glaring in our general direction. I met her eyes, and I knew that she hadn't told anyone that I liked Lash. I was extremely grateful, but I suddenly felt bad. I should've just told her. Maybe I'd apologize to her later.

But she wasn't the only person glaring. Speed was standing with the guy he'd gotten to replace Lash (some sporty guy with the power of ice breath), and while the cronie messed with some freshman, Speed watched Lash and I.

"Why aren't you and Speed friends anymore?" I asked, turning back around.

Lash shrugged, but the look on his face told me just how deep this thing went. "We had a falling out." he said. "Sorta like..what you and Layla went through. Only ours ended badly."

I was momentarily silenced by the thought of them two having a relationship. I was also thinking about the way in which Lash had said this; as if Speed himself had been abusive. No, I was making things out to be more than what they seemed. Dad always said I got that from my mom; almost like a drama queen, making the worst of things.

"I'm sorry." I finally said.

He smirked. "Don't get all touchy-feely with me now." he said. "You know I hate pity."

I rolled my eyes. "I wasn't pitying you, God." I said.

He shook his head, still with that half-smile, and abruptly changed the subject. "What time can I come over tonight?"

I finished cleaning my room around three thirty -- Lash would be over at four. I don't know why I'd cleaned -- he'd already seen my messy room. When I finished I decided I really should apologize to Layla, and I quickly went over to her place. When I knocked on the door, I saw the curtains of the living room window move, and I knew it was her. I expected her not to answer, but a moment later the door opened.

"Hey." I said, as she peered out from the crack she'd opened it to.

"What do you want?" she asked.

"To say I'm sorry." I said.

"For what?" She asked. "You were being honest."

"I was being blunt." I said. "You're my best friend, Layla." I looked around. "I guess I was just nervous on the whole having a crush on another guy."

"Especially with him being Lash." she said.

I wanted to laugh. She talked about him the way he talked about her. I could see a cat-fight between them.

"I didn't mean what I said." I continued. I gave her the best innocent look I could muster up. "Can you forgive me?"

She sighed, opening the door more and leaning against the frame. "I don't want to." she said slowly. "But yeah. I forgive you."

I grinned and pulled her into a friendly embrace. She winced slightly, but I barely noticed.

"Thanks." I said. "But I have to go."

"Is he coming over?" she asked.

I nodded, and she followed suit, then I grabbed her by the elbows, seriousness coming over me again.

"Don't tell anyone, please Layla." I said.

She studied my expression for a little while longer, before she nodded. "Okay."

I grinned again. "Thanks." I said once more. "I'll see you tomorrow."

She nodded slowly. "Bye Will."

I fought to ignore the way she'd said it like a death sentence, and I quickly hurried back to my house.

Argh, this was rushed, I apologize. But I'm just pulling shit from nowhere now, I'm so mad I lost the plans. And whilst typing this and chewing bubblegum, I seem to have gotten some caught on my liprings. I'm tired, so I didn't do spellcheck (I don't have a program with it), I use an online one, and I didn't feel like it. Sorry. Reviews would make my day so much better.